Conservancy Approves Grant for Shaahnaa' Lhook' Land
The California State Coastal Conservancy backed up to $1.5 million to help the Cahto Tribe of Laytonville Rancheria obtain 672 acres in Branscomb.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Native American
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The State Coastal Conservancy board approved a grant of up to $1.5 million on April 23 for the Shaahnaa' Lhook' Acquisition. Trust for Public Land would buy the 672-acre property and transfer it to the Cahto Tribe of Laytonville Rancheria.
Why it matters
The staff report says permanent protection keeps the creek's streams and forests resilient against logging and subdivision pressures, and it describes tribal access to the land as a long-unmet need. For California readers, the deal shows how state climate-bond money can be used to protect watershed land while returning it to tribal stewardship.
The Conservancy's share comes from Proposition 4, the state's 2024 climate bond, while $765,000 comes from a Department of Fish and Wildlife spill-response fund. The property holds 1.25 miles of creek frontage and 0.2 miles of South Fork Eel River frontage, and the tribe's current rancheria is 202 acres.
The players
California State Coastal Conservancy
A state agency that funds coastal and watershed protection projects along California's shoreline and inland waterways.
Trust for Public Land
A national land conservation nonprofit that acquires property for parks, conservation and community use before transferring it to public or tribal owners.
Cahto Tribe of Laytonville Rancheria
A federally recognized tribe based in Laytonville, California, whose current rancheria covers 202 acres.
The details
Trust for Public Land would buy the property and then transfer it to the tribe. The transaction will proceed in two phases: due diligence, including title work, appraisals and environmental reviews, followed by escrow and transfer to the tribe.
Timeline
April 23, 2026: Conservancy board approved the grant.
Oct. 23, 2026: Conservancy filed notice for the Shaahnaa' Lhook' Acquisition.
1986: Trust for Public Land and the Conservancy created the 3,900-acre Sinkyone Wilderness.
Season Trajectory
The 1986 Sinkyone Wilderness transfer set a precedent for Trust for Public Land and the Conservancy working together on Mendocino County land conservation. This 672-acre acquisition extends that partnership into tribal land return on the South Fork Eel River.
Residents of Mendocino County and the Eel River watershed may see the land shift from private ownership to tribal stewardship. The tribe will write a management plan once Trust for Public Land owns the land, and that plan could include checking water quality, controlling erosion and keeping forest tree cover in place.
The takeaway
Land return to tribal nations can be paired with public conservation funding to protect watersheds at the same time. For California readers, the Shaahnaa' Lhook' deal shows one practical path for that approach.
Further reading
Explore more coverage in the Native American section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Mendocino Voice | Mendocino County, CA.
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